SOC 17-2112 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Industrial Engineers — Northeast Iowa
Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area · 8 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Northeast Iowa, IA is $91,730 a year, trailing the national median of $102,440 by 10.5%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Northeast Iowa, IA is $91,730 a year, trailing the national median of $102,440 by 10.5%. Half of workers earn between $75,960 and $101,120. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $67,350 and the ninetieth at $128,330.
The area has 220 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.92 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Dubuque leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $109,040. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 31st of 331 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $67,350 | −34.3% |
| 25th | $75,960 | −25.8% |
| Median (50th) | $91,730 | −10.5% |
| 75th | $101,120 | −1.3% |
| 90th | $128,330 | +25.3% |
| Mean | $93,660 | −8.6% |
Other metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dubuque | $109,040 | 230 | |
| 2 | Sioux City | $105,660 | 130 | |
| 3 | Davenport | $104,100 | 1,190 | |
| 4 | Cedar Rapids | $99,570 | 330 | |
| 5 | Des Moines | $98,270 | 520 | |
| 6 | Waterloo | $92,330 | 120 | |
| 7 | Ames | $88,650 | 140 | |
| 8 | Iowa City | $85,800 | 180 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Northeast Iowa run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $91,730 goes as far as $104,476 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 2.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$91,730as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$104,476US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $91,730 a year, 10.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $67,350 to $128,330 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 220 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Dubuque, at $109,040.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Industrial Engineers in Northeast Iowa, IA?
The median annual wage is $91,730, or $44.10 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $102,440, so pay in Northeast Iowa, IA is 10.5% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Northeast Iowa, IA earns more than $128,330 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $67,350 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Dubuque, at $109,040 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 220 jobs in this occupation in Northeast Iowa, IA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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